Fastening device for roofing.



W. H. WOERHEIDE.

FASTENING DEVICE FOR ROOFING. APPLICATION FILED OCT. vs. 1914.

1,1 86,257. Patented June 6,1916.

1/- INVENTOR 2 monuavs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. \VOEBHEI'DE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FASTENING DEVICE FOR ROOFING.

Application filed October 19, 1914.

To a I /mm it nm wonrcrn:

lait known that l. Willem. H, WoEnmauaz, a citixrn of the l'nited Slates, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York. havc invcntctl certain new and useful lniprovcnicnts in Fastening Devices for lioolin of which the following in :i specification.

My invention relates to fastening devices for HH'lU'lUg sheets of prepared rooting in place by nailing or otherwise fastening the devices onto the laps, hutt joints and tlasln in e's oi' the roofing sheets.

The ohject of my invention is the production of a device ot the above character from light-weight and incxpcneive llltittltl which devices are so -.-onslructc l that they have the ne essary inherent Strength to effect a t'olll inuous and uniformly lirin binding pressure over the laps and flashings of the roofing sheets, at the same time, the devices are of such short lentil h as to give an individual clu'iracter to each one.

1 am aware that it is not hroadlv new to use devices each ol which forms a separate and distinct unit of a general 'tcheine of faatening, but all of the devices heretofore used havc been of a design and character which could not cll'c t a continuous prec- Slllt over the laps; they have also lacked the inhcrcnt strength in rceis t heavy nailing prcsanro when llliltl( ol' the lightweight metal to which they are limited in order to confine their cm! within reason.

Htrir U l meta. o'l' consitlerahle length and having: various lorlnations and employing a multiple of unite for holding each trip in position are in gcuct al imfor securin; pro parctl rooting. \Yliilc SUlllt of these strips arc thoroughly cllicit-nt they have some dis- RUlYZIHlHgth which it in the illl ltt'l of my invcntion to overcome. lit the first place. those strut; require a certain strcngth and weight of metal to l'csiat the Stress and strain int'itlenl to the nailing Plthfilll'e ah thcv arc s oured in pmition. This. weight ol' nielal rcttuirctl i-1 considerably greater than was f rintj-rlv employed in the old-Style a cessories. vi'/..: tin caps and thereforc these strips t'uSl considerably more to 'u'oduce and are consequently handicapped in this iniporlant respect.

My device; due to. their peculiar nonst uclion and design. may he made of 1".ltill thinner and limiter-weight nit-ta! than poeeililo in the manu t ncture of fastening ips, inle Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Serial No. 867,281.

at the some lime they resist an even greater nailing pressure without distortion than the strips which are made of heavier metal, and therefore, crcatc a greater pressure over the entire lap than is exerted by said strips. It will be apparent, therefore, that by the use of my invention, I am, for the above reasons, enabled to effect a considerable economy in the imtnu'r'acturc of the devices.

Another advantage that my invention has over the htTlpS in general use is due to the fact that in their design each unit is short, which makes it possible to use these devices for either long or short stretches of rooting without any substantial loss of metal, and upon the other hand. to terminate laps within a fraction of an inch, which makes my invcrt'ion well adapted for use on flashings, butt joints, and the like.

The functions of each of my devices are entirely separate and distinct from the tunetione of the others, and if it is necessary to use one or many devices the some elliciency is: secured in all cases. For convenience I prcl'cr to manufacture the devices attached togfc'hcr in any suitable and convenient nnmhcr. so that they may be readily handled and applied upon a roof without the necessit}; of handling: each one separately. They are neverthcless easily separated one from tho other and may be separated and applied to the roofing with a short epace/ say one eighth of an inch, between the ends of adjacent devices, although it will be preferable in most cases to apply them attached togatnviz Thcrc is another distinct advantage incident to the individual character of the tl(\ i es. which advantage is the facility with vi hich the; may he applied around short corncrs while attached together, and over hoards which have become warped or cupped, thus forming an irregular surface, the construction and individual character of lhc devices mulling them ellicient at all points.

Speaking generally the device consists of a piece of metal which has an oblong base,

'prcl'erahly rectangular, and having a gen cral l'rnsto-pyramidal sha e. It illSt) has prismoidal. portions, the liases of two of which constitute the base of the device. The metal between the top and sides of thesetwo prisinoitlal portions is drawn into an enlarged generallyprisnioidal or Wedgeed poi-tn irerted with respect to the fix to two t The two bottom prismoit ill pun tions are therefore separated from the enlarged top portion by a line in which the metal has been drawn and set by the process of drawing. The setting makes this line very rigid and gives great strength to the walls against compression caused by the nailing pressure. In other words, these set lines: are so located in the metal that they form inherent trusses to support the sides of the device.

Other advantages and features of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a plurality of the devices attached together; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the devices; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device shown in. Fig. 2; Fig. 4 .is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on line 55 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the device when fastened in position; and Fig. 7 shows a diagrammatic view of the devices applied to a roof in which the boards are warped.

Broadly considered, my device consists of a single piece of metal drawn into a frustopyramidal shape and comprising three prismoidal portions 1, 2 and 3. The portion 1 is not truly prismoidal in form, its base 4 dieing cut away at its ends along the lines 5 and 6 which lines are substantially parallel with the lines 7 and 8 forming the outer sides of the prismoids 2 and 3, respectively, and also constituting the ends of the device. This portion 1 is drawn so that it is substantially larger than, and bulges over, all sides of the portions 2 and 3. This is accomplished by drawing the metal along the lines joining the points 9, 10, 11, 12, 1.3 and 14. After this metal has been thus drawn it is set in the well-known manner so that it will not again assume its original position or condition, thus forming inherent trussing means in the metal. flat top 15 which is preferably rectangular, as clearly shown .in Fig. 3. Through this top is made an opening 16 through which a nail, or other suitable fastening device may be inserted.

In drawing the metal sheet into the form shown, flanges 17, 18, 19 and 20 are produced. These flanges run from a maximum Width at the corners of the device to a point near the middle of the device at which point they are reduced to zero so that there is no flange at the middle part. The metal is also drawn so that the body thereof has a general bowed shape, while the base-line is in a true plane. During the drawing operations lines 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 are formed along the corners of the device. These lines The portion 1 has a are also set so as to give great strength and rigidity to the completed structure.-

These lines, well as the lines joining the various points 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, form in effect other inherent trussing means united at all points witl. the metal constituting all sides of the portions 1, 2 and 3.

As a result of the enlargement of the portion 1 and the formation of the various set lines above described, when pressure is exerted on the top 15 by means of a nail through the opening 16, this pressure is transmitted through the portion 1 to the top of the portions 2 and 3, as well as to the sides of these two portions, joining the points 109 and 914 and 14e-13 of portions 1 and 2, and the points 1011 and 1112 and 12-43 of the portions 1 and 3. This pressure is also transmitted to the ends of the device through the set lines 21, 22, and 24. Due to this construction a firm pressure is exerted at all points of the base of the device so as to hold the roofing securely in place at all points thereunder, while at the same time the flanges 17, 18, 19 and 20 prevent the metal from biting into the comparatively soft roofing composition too much. These flanges also have the function of preventing the cutting of the roofing by the metal when the roofing is caused to vibrate in service by means of wind and other causes. The position which the device assumes when in service is clearly shown in Fig. 6.

Another feature of the device is that the top portion 1 is of such size that when the nail is being driven into position the face of the hammer will strike the top along lines 29 and 30, thus bulging the portion 1 at all points where it joins portions 2 and 3, and thereby distributing the thrust and compressive strain evenly throughout the entire base of the device.

Fig. 7 shows, in diagrammatic manner, the advantage resulting from the individual character and comparatively short length of each of my devices. It is frequently found in practice that when the lap or butt joint runs across the sheathing boards, which in roofing construction are 6 to 12 inches wide, these boards have become warped, as at 31, or cupped, as at 32, so as to make an uneven edge between the boards 31, 33 and also a curved surface, as shown in the boards 31 and 32. The ditficulty of properl fastening the roofing in position on a sur ace of this character is evident when using comparatively rigid fastening strips of considerable length. It is also apparent that this difficulty is overcome by the use of devices of the construction and individual character above described.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a device having individual functions may be easily and cheaply produced in great quantities from light and inexpensive metal.

ihere are many advantages, which are of prime importance in practice, resulting from the individual character and great strength of this device. It will be observed that itmakes little difference how hard the nail is driven home so long as it driven down for enough to pull the device firmly into coir tact with the roofing. This makes it possi ble to give simple instructions to those who are to use the devices. 5. 6., to drive all nails firmly. It is impossible for the ends of this device to kick up so as to render the roofing loose at these points. The construction is such that as long as there is pressure upon the portion 1 this pressure transmitted substantially equally to all points of the base of the device, thereby holding it curely and uniformly in contact with the roofing.

By a construction of this character I am enabled to economize in the weight. as well as in the cost, of the metal to a comparatively large percentage, while at the same time producing a. device having man ad vantages over the devices heretofore used for this purpose. There are manv advam tag es coming from the use of the lighter metal, one of which is that the dies for drawing or punching the devices wil last mu h longer time when used with lighter metal than if used with metal of a. weight necessary to secure the required strength in devices used for this purpose. heretoforeconstructcd. F

Hy device may be modified in some re spects without departing from the spirit of my invention. and l do not intend to be limited to the specific device shown in the drawings.

Having described my invention, what- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. sheet metal fastening device for roofin comprising a piece of metal drawn into substantially pyramirh'ilshape and having inherent truss lines drawn therein at an angle to the base. whereby pressure exerted on the top of said device will be transmitted to all points of the base thereof.

2. A sheet metal fastening device for roofin; made from a single piece of sheet metal and having an ohlono' base with a pyramidal portion rising there rom and having an enlargement at the upper portion thereof.

3; sheet metal fastening device for roofingr made from a. single piece of sheet metal and having-an oblong base with pyramidal portions rising therefrom and united by a line of drawn and set metal.

4. A sheet metal fastening device for rooflug, having a frusto-pwamidal shape with a rectangular base. each side of said device having therein portions drawn into general triangular formation.

51 A hollow sheet metal device for fastening roofing having frusto-pyramidal shape and an enlarged drawn portion for receiving a fastening means and transmitting the.

pressure thereof to all points of the base said device.

6. A hollow sheet metal device for fastest!- ing roofing having haste-pyramidal shape and an enlarged drawn inverted prismoidal portion for receiving a. fastening means and transmi ting the pressure thereof to all points of thebase of said device.

7. A sheet-n'ietal fastening device for roofing having av rectangular base and gradually converging sides rising therefrom and an enlarged top portion integrally connected with said s des.

H. A sheet-instill fastening device for roofing having rectangular base and gradually converging sides rising therefrom and an enlarged top portion intep'rally connected with said sides y ines o. drawn and set metal.

9. .5. sheet-inn. f ring device for roof-- ing having a rectangular and gradually iizonverging sides of drawn metal rising from said base and an enlarged top portion further drawn from said sides and integrally united with the sides by lines of drawn and set metal.

19. A sheetmetal fastening de ice for roofing ha ing a base and sides rising from said more abruptly than the ends do and lines of metal joining said sides and ends and an enlarged top portion rising from said set lines and adapted to receive a fastoning means.

ll. A sheet metal fastening device for roofing having haste-pyramidal shape with a rectangular base, each side of said device having portions drawn therein and bounded by truss lines at an angle to said base.

A metal fastening device for roofing of frusto'pyramidal shape having a rectangular haste, portions of said device having prismoidal formation, the base of at leasttwo of said prisu'ioidal portions forming the base of said device and an enlarged prisnnoidal portion inverted with respect to said first portions and being drawn from the metal and integral with the other portions.

l3. A sheet metal fastening device for roofing having ai" being constituted by the bases of two adja-. centpyramids and integral inherent means for applying pressure at the top of said pyramids and thereby distributing said pressure over the entire base of said device.

H. A hollow sheet metal device for fasleniug roofing. comprising: a single piece of metal formed in frustri-pyrainidal shape and having its sides more abrupt than its ends. thereby forming a rectangular base. said device also comprising a plurality of ohlori'g base. said base small prismoidal portions, the'base's of two of whlch' constitute the base of the device and another of said portions inverted with respect thereto and drawn from the metal between said first two sections and integral therewith.

15. A hollow sheet metal device for fastening' roofing, comprising a single iece of metal formed in frusto-pyramida shape and having its sides more abrupt than its ends, thereby forming a rectangular base, said device also comprising a plurality of Small prismoidal portions, the bases of two of which constitute the base of the device and another of said portions being larger than the first two portions and inverted with respect thereto and drawn from the metal between said iirst two sections and integral therewith. v

16. A hollo'w sheet metal device for fastening roofing, comprising a single piece of metal formed in frusto-pyramidal shape and having its sides more abrupt than its ends, thereby forming arectangular base, said device also comprising a plurality of small prismoidal portions, the bases of two of-whlch constitute the base of the device and another of said portions being larger than the first two portions and inverted with respect thereto and drawn from the metal between said first two sections and integral therewith, whereby when pressure is exerted on said inverted portion it will .be transmitted to the other portions and thence to all parts of the base of the device. 17. A sheet metal fastening device for roofing having an oblong base with sides converging from the base into a frustopyramidal formation, said sides being drawn into three prisinoidal portions, two

of which have their base along and constitute the base of the device and the third portion being larger than and inverted with respect to the other two so that its base forms the top of the device and having an 

